Retracting Toybox Assembly

ABSTRACT

A retracting toy box assembly includes a box for storing toys, and the box has a track that is integrated therein. A spool is slidably coupled to the track, and the spool is positionable between a stored position and a deployed position. The spool is biased to rotate in a first direction and the spool is urgeable to rotate in a second direction. A mat is wrapped around the spool. The mat is unwrapped from the spool and extends forwardly from the box when the spool is positioned in the deployed position. In this way the mat can lie on the floor and toys can be positioned on the mat. Moreover, the mat can be lifted by a caregiver thereby facilitating all of the toys on the mat to be subsequently deposited in the box. In this way the mat assists the caregiver with putting the toys away.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

Not Applicable

(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The disclosure and prior art relates to toy box devices and more particularly pertains to a new toybox device for a box for storing toys, and the box has a track that is integrated therein. A spool is slidably coupled to the track, and the spool is positionable between a stored position and a deployed position. The spool is biased to rotate in a first direction and the spool is urgeable to rotate in a second direction. A mat is wrapped around the spool. The mat is unwrapped from the spool and extends forwardly from the box when the spool is positioned in the deployed position. In this way the mat can lie on the floor and toys can be positioned on the mat. Moreover, the mat can be lifted by a caregiver thereby facilitating all of the toys on the mat to be subsequently deposited in the box. In this way the mat assists the caregiver with putting the toys away.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a box for storing toys. The box has a track that is integrated therein, and a lid is hingedly coupled to the box for opening and closing the box. A spool is provided and the spool is slidably coupled to the track. The spool is positionable between a stored position and a deployed position. The spool is positioned within the box when the spool is in the stored position and the spool is positioned outside of the box when the spool is in the deployed position. The spool is biased to rotate in a first direction and the spool is urgeable to rotate in a second direction. A mat is wrapped around the spool. The mat is unwrapped from the spool and extends forwardly from the box when the spool is positioned in the deployed position. In this way the mat can lie on the floor and toys can be positioned on the mat. Moreover, the mat can be lifted by a caregiver and urged toward the opening in the box thereby facilitating all of the toys on the mat to be subsequently deposited in the box. In this way the mat assists the caregiver with putting the toys away.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a retracting toy box assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a spool in a dep.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a mat being lifted and depositing toys in a box.

FIG. 4 is a front phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a spool in a stored position.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a spool in a deployed position.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new toy box device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the retracting toy box assembly 10 generally comprises a box 12 for storing toys 14. The box 12 has a bottom wall 16 and a perimeter wall 18 extending upwardly therefrom, and the perimeter wall 18 has a first lateral side 20, a second lateral side 22, a front side 24, a back side 26 and a distal edge 28 with respect to the bottom wall 16. The distal edge 28 defines an opening 30 into the box 12. The front side 24 is recessed with respect to each of the first 20 and second 22 lateral sides to define an exposed surface 32 and a leading edge 34 of each of the first 20 and second 22 lateral sides. Moreover, the front side 24 has a height that is less than a height of the first 20 and second 22 lateral sides.

The box 12 has a track 36 integrated therein, and the track 36 comprises a first slot 38 that extends into the exposed surface 32 of the first lateral side 20. The first slot 38 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 16 having the first slot 38 being positioned between the leading edge 34 of the first lateral side 20 and the front side 24. Additionally, the first slot 38 curves over the distal edge 28 of the front side 24 and extends downwardly behind the front side 24. The first slot 38 has a terminal end 40 that is positioned behind the front side 24.

The track 36 further comprises a second slot 42 that extends into the exposed surface 32 of the second lateral side 22. The second slot 42 extends upwardly from the bottom wall 16 having the second slot 42 being positioned between the leading edge 34 of the second lateral side 22 and the front side 24. The second slot 42 curves over the distal edge 28 of the front side 24 and extends downwardly behind the front side 24. The second slot 42 has a terminal end 44 that is positioned behind the front side 24, and the second slot 42 is aligned with the first slot 38.

A lid 46 is hingedly coupled to the box 12 for opening 30 and closing the box 12. The lid 46 has a bottom surface 48 and a back edge 50, and the back edge 50 is hingedly coupled to the distal edge 28 of the back side 26 of the perimeter wall 18 of the box 12. The bottom surface 48 rests on the distal edge 28 of the perimeter wall 18 when the lid 46 is closed. A spool 52 is provided and the spool 52 is slidably coupled to the track 36. The spool 52 is positionable between a stored position having the spool 52 being positioned within the box 12 and a deployed position having the spool 52 being positioned outside of the box 12.

The spool 52 is biased to rotate in a first direction and the spool 52 is urgeable to rotate in a second direction. The spool 52 may be a spring loaded spool or the like and the spool 52 is longitudinally elongated. Moreover, the spool 52 slidably engages each of the first 38 and second 42 slots in the first 20 and second 22 lateral sides of the perimeter wall 18 of the box 12 such that the spool 52 is horizontally oriented. The spool 52 abuts the terminal ends 40, 44 of each of the first 38 and second 42 slots when the spool 52 is positioned in the stored position. The spool 52 is positioned on the exposed surface 32 of each of the first 20 and second 22 lateral sides and the spool 52 is aligned with the bottom wall 16 when the spool 52 is positioned in the deployed position.

A mat 54 is provided and the mat 54 is coupled to the spool 52. The mat 54 is wrapped around the spool 52 when the spool 52 rotates in the first direction. In this way the mat 54 can be stored within the box 12 when the spool 52 is positioned in the stored position. The mat 54 can be gripped and unwrapped from the spool 52 thereby urging the spool 52 to rotate in the second direction. The mat 54 may be tugged when the mat 54 has been fully unwrapped from the spool 52 in order to actuate the spool 52 to rotate in the first direction.

The mat 54 is unwrapped from the spool 52 and extends forwardly from the box 12 when the spool 52 is positioned in the deployed position. In this way the mat 54 can lie on the floor and toys 14 contained in the box 12 can be positioned on the mat 54. The mat 54 is lifted by a caregiver and angled upwardly from the front side 24 of the perimeter wall 18 of the box 12. Thus, all of the toys 14 on the mat 54 can slide downwardly along the mat 54 and into the opening 30 in the box 12 thereby assisting the caregiver with putting the toys 14 away. The mat 54 has a distal edge 56 with respect to the spool 52 and the mat 54 may have a length ranging between approximately 36.0 inches and 60.0 inches.

A handle 58 is provided and the handle 58 is pivotally coupled to the mat 54 for gripping. The handle 58 has a member 60 that is spaced from the distal edge 28 of the mat 54 thereby facilitating the member 60 to be gripped for unwrapping the mat 54 from the spool 52. Additionally, the handle 58 is gripped for lifting the mat 54 for putting the toys 14 away. A rod 62 may be coupled to the distal edge 28 of the mat 54 and the rod 62 may be coextensive with the distal edge 28. The rod 62 may reinforce the distal edge 28 and the handle 58 may be coupled to the rod 62.

In use, the toys 14, or other objects children use for play, are stored in the box 12. The spool 52 is slid into the deployed position and the mat 54 is drawn outwardly from the spool 52. Thus, the mat 54 defines a play area in front of the box 12 for the children to sit on while the children play with the toys 14. The handle 58 is gripped to lift the mat 54 when the toys 14 are being put away thereby facilitating the toys 14 to be lifted on the mat 54. Additionally, the distal edge of the mat is lifted higher than the front side of the perimeter wall of the box 12. Thus, the toys 14 can slide downwardly along the mat 54 and into the box 12. In this way the toys 14 can be placed into the box 12 in a single motion rather than with a series of repetitive motions. The mat 54 is tugged against the spool 52 to actuate the spool 52 to rotate in the first direction and wrap the mat 54 around the spool 52. The spool 52 is then slid into the stored position and the lid 46 is closed.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A retracting toy box assembly having a play mat being retractably coupled thereto for automatically urging toys into a toy box, said assembly comprising: a box for storing toys, said box having a track being integrated therein; a lid being hingedly coupled to said box for opening and closing said box; a spool being slidably coupled to said track, said spool being positionable between a stored position having said spool being positioned within said box and a deployed position having said spool being positioned outside of said box, said spool being biased to rotate in a first direction, said spool being urgeable to rotate in a second direction; and a mat being wrapped around said spool said mat being unwrapped from said spool and extending forwardly from said box when said spool is positioned in said deployed position wherein said mat is configured to lie on the floor having toys being positioned thereon, said mat being lifted by a caregiver and lifted and an upwardly angle with said box thereby facilitating all of the toys on said mat to slide into said box wherein said mat is configured to assist the caregiver with putting the toys away.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said box has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly therefrom, said perimeter wall having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side, a back side and a distal edge with respect to said bottom wall defining an opening into said box, said front side being recessed with respect to each of said first and second lateral sides to define an exposed surface and a leading edge of each of said first and second lateral sides, said front side having a height being less than a height of said first and second lateral sides.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said track comprises a first slot extending into said exposed surface of said first lateral side, said first slot extending upwardly from said bottom wall having said first slot being positioned between said leading edge of said first lateral side and said front side, said first slot curving over said distal edge of said front side and extending downwardly behind said front side, said first slot having a terminal end being positioned behind said front side.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a second slot extending into said exposed surface of said second lateral side, said second slot extending upwardly from said bottom wall having said second slot being positioned between said leading edge of said second lateral side and said front side, said second slot curving over said distal edge of said front side and extending downwardly behind said front side, said second slot having a terminal end being positioned behind said front side, said second slot being aligned with said first slot.
 5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lid having a bottom surface and a back edge, said back edge being hingedly coupled to said distal edge of said back side of said perimeter wall of said box, said bottom surface resting on said distal edge of said perimeter wall when said lid is closed.
 6. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said spool is longitudinally elongated; said spool slidably engages each of said first and second slots in said first and second lateral sides of said perimeter wall of said box such that said spool is horizontally oriented; said spool abutting said terminal end of each of said first and second slots when said spool is positioned in said stored position; and said spool is positioned on said exposed surface of each of said first and second lateral sides and having said spool being aligned with said bottom wall when said spool is positioned in said deployed position.
 7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein: said mat is unwrapped from said spool when said spool rotates in said first direction, said mat being gripped and unwrapped from said spool thereby urging said spool to rotate in said second direction, said mat having a distal edge with respect to said spool; and a handle being pivotally coupled to said mat for gripping, said handle having a member being spaced from said distal edge of said mat thereby facilitating said member to be gripped for unwrapping said mat from said spool and for lifting said mat for putting the toys away.
 8. A retracting toy box assembly having a play mat being retractably coupled thereto for automatically urging toys into a toy box, said assembly comprising: a box for storing toys, said box having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly therefrom, said perimeter wall having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a front side, a back side and a distal edge with respect to said bottom wall defining an opening into said box, said front side being recessed with respect to each of said first and second lateral sides to define an exposed surface and a leading edge of each of said first and second lateral sides, said front side having a height being less than a height of said first and second lateral sides, said box having a track being integrated therein, said track comprising: a first slot extending into said exposed surface of said first lateral side, said first slot extending upwardly from said bottom wall having said first slot being positioned between said leading edge of said first lateral side and said front side, said first slot curving over said distal edge of said front side and extending downwardly behind said front side, said first slot having a terminal end being positioned behind said front side; and a second slot extending into said exposed surface of said second lateral side, said second slot extending upwardly from said bottom wall having said second slot being positioned between said leading edge of said second lateral side and said front side, said second slot curving over said distal edge of said front side and extending downwardly behind said front side, said second slot having a terminal end being positioned behind said front side, said second slot being aligned with said first slot; a lid being hingedly coupled to said box for opening and closing said box, said lid having a bottom surface and a back edge, said back edge being hingedly coupled to said distal edge of said back side of said perimeter wall of said box, said bottom surface resting on said distal edge of said perimeter wall when said lid is closed; a spool being slidably coupled to said track, said spool being positionable between a stored position having said spool being positioned within said box and a deployed position having said spool being positioned outside of said box, said spool being biased to rotate in a first direction, said spool being urgeable to rotate in a second direction, said spool being longitudinally elongated, said spool slidably engaging each of said first and second slots in said first and second lateral sides of said perimeter wall of said box such that said spool is horizontally oriented, said spool abutting said terminal end of each of said first and second slots when said spool is positioned in said stored position, said spool being positioned on said exposed surface of each of said first and second lateral sides and having said spool being aligned with said bottom wall when said spool is positioned in said deployed position; and a mat being wrapped around said spool said mat being unwrapped from said spool and extending forwardly from said box when said spool is positioned in said deployed position wherein said mat is configured to lie on the floor having toys being positioned thereon, said mat being lifted by a caregiver and lifted and an upwardly angle with said box thereby facilitating all of the toys on said mat to slide into said box wherein said mat is configured to assist the caregiver with putting the toys away, said mat having a distal edge with respect to said spool; and a handle being pivotally coupled to said mat for gripping, said handle having a member being spaced from said distal edge of said mat thereby facilitating said member to be gripped for unwrapping said mat from said spool and for lifting said mat for putting the toys away. 